Tube reforming machine



J. L. CASSADY TUBE! REFORMING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l J. L. CA SSADY TUBE REFORMING MACHINE May "1, 1934.

7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 28, 1929 May 1 1934. J. L. CASSADY TUBE REFORMING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 1, 1934. J. CASSADY I 1,957,388

TUBE REFORMING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 May E, 1934. J. CASSADY 8- TUBE REFORMING MACHINE Filed March 28. 1929 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 w ixx May 1, i934. J.--L. CASSADY 1,957,338

' TUBE REFORMING MAHINE'.

' Filed March 28, 1929 7 sheetsfsheet Emu 111mg,

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Y D A 5 S A C L TUBE REFORMING MACHINE Filed March 28, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 0 a /////w////////// U h L w\ v M V Em R v \\\\7 w\ w /.//Wfi/////.Z//////Z J n HM MN u a ////////////////////y/////////////// U 4 \m m\ b w? wk, v QN M, Q 323/??? QZZ/Z v PM earns eerie "risen heroes nus Machine James Lloyd Qassady, Genera, Ohio, assignor to The American Fork & Hoe ilompany, Eleveland, @hio, a corporation of Ohio Application March 28,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the drawing of rods or tubes by means of roller dies, such as ball dies, and relates especially to such drawing wherein the diameter of the work is varied in different portions of its length.

An object of the present invention is to provide for the drawing of tubes and rods in such a way as to accomplish a variation in effective diameter of the die-pass according to a predetermined relation to the relative longitudinalmovement of the die and Work..

Another object of my invention is to efiect'variations in the form of thin-walled tubes by the action of a roller die, in such a way as not to 5 fracture or otherwise unduly weaken the walls of the tubes during the drawing process.

Another object of my invention is to provide for the operation upon tubes of a given diameter and wall thickness, to vary the diameter and/or wall thickness in at least certain portions of the length of the thin-walled tube, in such a way that the resulting exterior surface of the tube will be relatively smooth throughout its length.

Another object of my invention is to provide for the drawing of relatively high carbon steel tubes, to a predetermined tapered form and with such a resulting wall thickness as'to make them applicable for use as shafts of golf clubs.

Another object of my invention is to effect the drawing of tubes and rods to a predetermined form from a rod or tube varying in form therefrom in an economical manner.

Another object of my invention is to provide for the forming from substantially non-tapered tubes to relatively strong highly resilient tapered tubes which may be of any-desired wall thickness in difierent portions of their length.

Another object of my invention is to provide against scoring of rods or tubes processed in a roller tube die.

Another object of my invention is to provide a mechanism for drawing rods or tubes to tapered form in a very efficient manner, involving the use of a stationary rotary die-pass, whereby certain advantages inherent to such a stationary die-pass may be achieved.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved structure of adjustable roller ball die."

Other objects of my invention and the invention itself will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment of my invention, and in which description reference will be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating 1929, Serial are. 350,621

(oi. sane) the said embodiment and forming a part of this specification.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of an embodiment of my invention, the view being in side elevation except that certain parts are illustrated as being broken away and other parts being illustrated in longitudinal section, for a better understanding of the structural elements thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in transverse section.

Fig; 3 is a view in longitudinal section, taken on the staggered line 33 of Fig. 2, of a spinning roller die head employed in the said embodiment.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the mechanism of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational view of the die-head housing illustrated in section in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1, with the spinning motor and work holding chuck, a tube being operated upon by the die head is also shown in this figure, disposed in a diiierently adjusted longitudinal position on the machine bed than that illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in elevation of a typical mandrel over which a tube may be telescoped when a tapered tube is desired to be formed by the machine, with interior walls conforming closely to the form of the exterior walls of the chosen mandrell 7 Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views in side elevation in Fig. 8, and longitudinal medial section in Fig. 9, of a tube before and after being processed bythe machine of my invention, the mandrel being shown as telescoped therein in both cases.

Fig. 10 is a view in longitudinal medial section of a piston for the roller die head of the said machine. a

Fig. 11 is a view in transverse section on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, a pair of cam thrusting piston pins being illustrated as secured on the piston of Fig. 10. 1

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of a tubular cam element adapted to efiect a longitudinal thrusting effort on the piston of Figs. 10 and 11, together with a worm gear element secured by an end to an end thereof.

Fig. 13 is an end elevational view of the cam of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal medial sectional view of a worm gear illustrated as affixed to the cam element in Fig. 12.

Fig. 15 is an end elevational view-of the worm gear of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a view of a die-ball retaining tube for the roller die head, the view being in side elevation.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of a fragment of the ball retaining tube of Fig. 16, a fragment being illustrated as broken away to expose a portion illustrated in section.

Fig. 18 is an end elevational view of the tube of Fig. 16.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 are side elevational and two opposite end elevational views, of a worm pinion and clutch element employed for driving the worm gear of Fig. 14.

Figs. 2 2, 23 and 24 are similar views of a clutch element adapted to cooperate with the clutch element of Figs. 19 and 20.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary view of a spindle bolt used in conjunction with parts of Figs. 20 to 24 inclusive.

Fig. 26 is a vertical medial sectional view of the spinning head, and

Fig. 27 is a horizontal medial sectional view of the head.

Referring now to the different figures of drawing in all of which like parts are designated by like reference characters, a machine bed 1 is supported by a pair of legs 2 at one end and by. a hollow stand 3 at the other end. The hollow stand 3 houses an electric motor 4' for rotating a sprocket 45, Fig. 4, which, in turn, drives a chain 49 which passes over an idler sprocket 48 at the opposite end of the machine. pps o1 the two parallel runs of the chain is secure d"by a pin 34 to the supporting base 51'of the work rotating mechanism, comprising a motor 14, a motor shaft 17 driven through a coupling 52 by the motor, and a chuck16. The traveling chain 49 also is interlocked with the teeth of a sprocket 21 for driving through a special form of reduction gear,

a piston 25, in an axial direction, to effect a progressive continuous adjustment of the die-pass at all times proportional to the amount of longitudinal movement imparted to the work rotating apparatus by the pulling effect communicated by the chain thereto through the drag pin 34.

For communicating motion between the motor 4 and the sprocket 45, a belt 38 running on the motor pulley 37 and a driven pulley 39, effects driving of a gear 41 through a worm pinion which receives motion in turn from the pulley 39, A worm pinion 42 on the shaft carrying the gear 41, transmits motion, reduced therefrom, to the worm gear 43 and through the jaw clutch 46.

Motion is then transmitted through a meshed pair of gears contained in the housing 44 one of which is carried on a driving shaft 53, and the other carried on a driven shaft 54, the driven shaft carrying also the chain driving sprocket 45. Reference will mainly be had to Figs. 1, 2 and 4 for these parts.

The lever 47, having a handle 30, is operable to throw the elements of the jaw clutch 46 into driving relation, or to separate the interlocking jaws thereof to discontinue driving of the sprocket 45.

A controlling rod 31, pivotally connected at 32 to the handle so is adapted to control the operation of the clutch shaft lever 47 to discontinue the longitudinal movement of the work supportingand rotating element carried on the base 51 whenever ,the base 51 has carried its associated parts ,.to their ultimate left hand position, as viewed in Fig. 1, adjacent the housing 33. This is effected by a projection 55 carried by the base 51 engaging with a collar 56 rigidly supported on the rod 31 adjacent the housing 33.

The roller die head comprises a supporting base 57, and a housing 20 carried thereby. A pair of end walls 58 and 59 are provided for the housing 20. Within one end of the housing is provided a transmission mechanism comprising a worm gear 60 driven by a worm pinion 22; at an intermediate portion, spaced inwardly from the end wall 58, there is provided a die-pass mechanism comprising a piston 25 terminating at one end in an enlarged cup-shaped annular portion 7.

A spindle bolt 101, having a relatively long shaft threaded on one end. and provided with a head 102 at the other end, is adapted to hold the worm pinion 22 in. engagement with the worm gear 60.

The shank of the bolt passes through a short clutch element 22', holding the sprocket 21 upon the reduced end of the element 22', the sprocket being keyed to said element by a suitable key in the key-way 209. The element 22', is held by a pin 103 secured to the head 102 ofthe bolt, the pin being adapted to extend into the longitudinal aperture 104 of the element 22, holding said element and bolt relatively immovable to each other. The end of the clutch element 22 is provided with a plurality of teeth 105, which are adapted to engage similar teeth 106 on the end of the pinion 22, the pinion 22 also being telescoped over the shank of the bolt. The upper reduced end 107 of the pinion 22 also being telescoped over the shank'of the bolt. The upper reduced end 107 of the pinion 22 is provided with a key-way 108, and is adapted to be embraced by an axial bore of a flanged cylinder 109, as best shown in Fig. 3. The flanged cylinder is held against relative rotative movement to the pinion 22; by a key disposed in a keyway corresponding to the keyway 108 in the pinion; relative longitudinal axial movement, however, may be had. Screwed upon the end of the bolt 101 is a knurled adjusting nut 110.

Screwing the nut 110 upon the bolt, holds all the elements, including the sprocket 21, the clutch 22, pinion 22,1langed cylinder 109, securely together. Adjustment of the die ihead may be had by loosening the nut 110 and a pin or small bar may be inserted in one of the radial apertures 111, adjacent to the flange on the cylinder 109, and the cylinder rotate'd, which, in turn rotates the pinion 22, the notched ends 105 and 106 of the pinion and clutch element sliding readily over each other. Rotation of the pinion has the same effect on the cam and the piston as the rotation of the sprocket 21, and permits relative adjustment thereof. The annular portion 7 engages the inner walls of the cylindrical bore of the casing 20 by its peripheral flange 81. Ball bearing sets 8 and 13 are provided, forming radial and end thrust bearings respectively for a rotatable hardened steel ring 6, which carries on its periphery a race element 8' of the bearing 8, and which engages by an end, a freely rotatable race element 13' for the thrust bearing balls 13.

Die balls 17, held within radial passages 62 in an end of a tubularballretainer63,aredisposedwithin the ring 6 and engage, by their outer surfaces, with inner inclined walls 9 of the ring, and are restrained from dropping into the bore of the retainer by a construction 140 at the inner end of the pasage 62.

Within the bore of the casing 20, there is telescoped a cylindrical cam element 23 which has a pair of oppositely disposed spiral camming slots and '71, of suitable worm form, within which cam element the piston 25 is telescoped.

Oppositely extending piston pins 24 project radially from the piston 25 into the camming slots 70 and 71 of the cam element, and support a ball bearing element 84, the outer race of which is adapted to contact with the side walls of the slot.

The piston 25 is prevented from rotational movement by rollers 141 telescoped upon the piston pins 84 and disposed in oppositely disposed longitudinal slots 142 in the walls of the casing 20 in such amanner as not to prevent its movement longitudinally in the casing.

The piston element is, however, capable of moving axially in both directions, in operation, the die-balls 17 being meanwhile held relatively stationary in order to cam the die-ballsradially to more fully restrict or more completely expand the die-pass opening.

The cam element 23 is provided with an inturned annular end flange 82, to which there is secured, as best illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive, and 26 and 27, a worm gear 60., by means of screws 83 projected through openings such as 68 of the worm gear, into properly aligned threaded openings projected through the camming element flange 82.

A very much reduced movement of the camming cylinder 23 from that affected by the sprocket 21, is thereby had, and the cylinder is rotated at a low rate of speed while the piston 25 is held non-rotatable by the casing. Horizontal movement of the cam element is restricted by the bored bolt 78 which has a head 143 disposed in a recess 144 in the gear 60, the body of the bolt projecting through the central aperture in the gear and end plate and secured by a nut 144. A suitable thrust bearing 145 is disposed intermediate the gear and the end plate to take up the thrust therebetween, the bearing being' disposed in a recess 146 in the gear.

Longitudinal axial movement of the piston relative to the cylindrical cam is therefore effected by rotation of the cam by the gear 60, and the radially and laterally supported die-pass adjusting ring 6 is axially forced toward the end wall 58 of the die head toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, to cam the die balls. 17 inwardly to progressively cause the die pass. to be of gradually smaller efiective diameter, while the rotating work is continuously drawn therethrough.

A rotatable thrust element 73, having a radial flange '72, is centrally disposed within the die head end wall 58, being loosely journalled therein and within the bearing race element 74 supported thereby, the opposing bearing race element 75 being rigidly carried by the tubular thrust element 73.

The bearing balls 76 are interposed between the races to take the thrust of the thrust element 73 so disposed as described, which prevent movement of the die-pass rollers 17 axially toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, the motion being restricted in the opposite direction by the die-pass ball holder 63 abutting the bored screw 79 and held non-rotatable relative to the piston 25 by a key 147 carried by the piston which projects within the longitudinal keyway 87 of the ball retaining tube, as best shown in Figs. 10, 16 and 26.

Both the holder 63 and the thrust element 73, and all other parts of the die head in axial alignment therewith, have axially aligned bores of a size suflicient to permit the passage of the tubular piece of work to be operated upon by the die ball 17 projected therethrough.

The piece of work may enter the passage 77 comprising the bore of the tubular thrust element 73, and be projected through the bore-73 of the CI plug 79.

The above description of the different parts will now be of aid in conveying the understanding of the operation of these parts in cooperative relation in the embodiment machine illustrated in the drawings. The machine is started into operation by operating the motor 4 to drive the sprocket 45 through the reduction gearing 40; 41, 42, 43 and 44, and the clutch jaws 46, as previously described.

The chain 49 embracing the driving sprocket 45 and idler sprocket 48 at the other end of the machine bed, effects gradual axial reciprocation of the work holding and rotating head comprising the motor 14, and chuck 16, by the drag link pin 34 passed through the chain into the supporting base 51 of the head.

Previously, however, the machine has been set up for operation by projecting, for instance, a thin-walled tube through the axial bore 77-78 1) and die-head and between the die-pass balls 17, and securing the butt end of the tube, which may be of generally cylindrical form, as illustrated in thedrawings, with the larger end of the tapered mandrel telescoped within it, into the jaws of the chuck 16, adjusting inwardly to tightly grip the butt ends of the tube and contained mandrel.

The work holding and work rotating head, generally designated by the reference character no 90, in Figs. 6 and 7, is in the position shown in Fig. 1, and with the work projected through the die head passage, as indicated by dotted lines at 91.

Both motors 4 and 14 are then energized, the no first to drive the chain 49, and the second to rotate the work comprising the tube 91 and tapered mandrel 92 telescoped within it, the mandrel and tube taking the relative positions as illustrated in Fig. 8.

The driving of the chain will then progressively slowly move the work supporting and rotating head 90, longitudinally of the bed toward the housing 33, and intermediate position being illustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the work, indicated at 91, has been partially drawn through the die head, .the housing for which is shown at 20,

Fig. 6.

Meanwhile, the chain 49, by the engaged sprocket 21, worm pinion 22 and gear 60, rotates 13 the cylindrical cam element 23 within the die head housing 20, and effects a longitudinal thrust action on the piston 23 through its thrust bearings 84 projected into the camming slots 70 and 71 of the cam element, as previously described. 5

This will effect a movement of the hardened ring 6 for the die-balls 17, to force the die balls inwardly as the ring is advanced toward the end wall 58 of the die head. The balls being prevented, by the thrust element- 73, from bodily mediate position of the work supporting and rotating head 90, such as is illustrated in Fig. 6, whereas the solid lines at the right end of the figure illustrates the ultimate position of the balls when a tube 91 is tapered, as shown about the tapered mandrel 92.

It will be understood also that bodily movement imparted to balls, causing them to rotate, also causes the ring to rotate about its axis on the bearings comprising bearing balls illustrated at 8 and 13 respectively, previously described.

Also the guide and thrust element 73 will be rotated because of the frictional contact had between its end 93 and the die balls 17, rotation being effected on its thrust bearing comprising the bearing elements 74, '75 and '76.

It will be understood that this operation will be continuous and that as the motor drive chuck 16 is rapidly rotated and moved axially toward the left, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the die-balls will be'proportionately moved inwardly to spin the walls of the tubular work 91 inwardly to give it the tapered form illustrated in Fig. 9.

Although I contemplate rotating the work at various speeds and moving it axially at various rates, I find that for a tube of approximately .016 inch wall thickness, and starting with an outside diameter of 7;; inch, drawn down'to a diameter of 6 inch in a length of 42 inches, the

rod may be drawn through the pass a distance equal to its length, in considerably less than a minute, while it is rotated at about 3600 revolu tions per minute.

While the work is being operated upon, suitable cooling and lubricating fluid, shown at 96, will be pumped by a pump 97 to a conduit 98 over the die-pass elements, comprising the die-balls and bearing element, returning to the reservoir by conduit 99, the circulation of the fluid being continuous. The pump 97 may be driven by a separate motor, or by the motor 4, or in any other suitable way.

When the work supporting and rotating head has been moved longitudinally to its extreme position, the collar 56 on the rod 31 is engaged by a projection 55 supported by the base 51, and the rod 34 is caused to rotate the lever e7 on its to move its arm 32 downwardly.

This-will effect disengagement of the upper and lower clutch jaws of the clutch 46 and discontinue driving of the chain 49 and further longitudinal movement of the work holding head 90 is discontinued, as is also further inward movement 01 the die-balls 17.

The motor 4 is then reversed, repassing the work back through the die pass mechanism where it may then be removed and a new tube inserted in the machine for operation thereon.

Although I employ die-balls of various sizes, I preferably make these of from to inch in diameter for operating upon tubes ,of the character commonly employed in golf shafts as above described.

Having thus described my invention in a particular embodiment, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made from the embodiment herein illustrated and described but without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. In a mechanism for tapering rods and tubes. the combination of a machine bed, a die head having a die pass therein affixedly supported on the bed, a work support comprising a work holder, the work support being longitudinally movenses able on the bed with the work holder in axial alignment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls through which a rod or tube to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, and means to vary the diameter of the pass opening through the balls concurrently with the longitudinal and rotary movement of the work piece in the pass opening, said means comprising an internally conical ring surrounding the balls and mounted in rotational bearings and freely rotatable by movement transmitted thereto through the balls from the rotating work in the die pass, and means for translating longitudinal movement of the work holder into concurrent longitudinal axial movement of the conical ring.

2. In a mechanism for tapering rods and tubes, the eombinationoi a machine bed, a die head having a die pass therein afilx'edly supported on the bed, a work support comprising a work holder, the work support being longitudinally movable on the bed with the Work holder in axial alignment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls through which a rod or tube to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, the balls beingmounted to be rotated on their axes of rotation by their engagement with the work, during the rotary movement thereof effected by corresponding movement of the work holder, and means to vary the diameter of the pass opening through the balls concurrently with the longitudinal and rotary movement of the work piece in the pass opening, said means comprising an internally conical ring surrounding the balls and mounted in rotational bearings and freely rotatable by the work support being longitudinally movable on the bed with the work holder in axial alignment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the iii) work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls through which a rod or tube to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, and means to vary the diameter of the pass opening through the balls concurrently with the longitudinal and rotary movement of 'the work piece in the pass opening, said pass diameter varying means comprising an annulus provided with an inner conical wall in engagement with the balls and means for translating longitudinal movement of the Work holder into concurrent longitudinal axial movement of the annulus, the annulus being mounted in rotational bearings and freely ro tatable by movement transmitted thereto through the balls from the rotating work.

4. In a mechanism for tapering rods and tubes, the combination of a machine bed, a die head having a die pass therein aihxedly supported on the bed, a work support comprising a work holder, the work support being longitudinally movable on the bed with the work holder in axial align- .through which a rod or ment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls tube to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, the balls being mounted to be rotated: on their axes of rotation by their engagement with the work, during the rotary movement of the work piece effected by corresponding movement of the work holder, and means to vary the diameter of the pass opening through the balls concurrently with the longitudinal ment of the work piece in the pass opening, said pass diameter varying means comprising an annulus provided with an inner conical wall in engagement with the balls and means for translating longitudinal movement of the work holder into concurrent longitudinal axial movement of the annulus axially of the die pass opening, a rotary bearing for the annulus in which it is freely rotatable by movement transmitted thereto through the balls from the rotating work and a rotary thrust bearing through which the means for moving the annulus acts.

5. In a mechanism for tapering rods and tubes.

the combination of a machine bed, a die head.

having a die pass therein aflixedly supported on the bed, a work support comprising a work holder,

the work support being longitudinally movable on the bed with the work holder in axial alignment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls through whic a work piece to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, the balls being relatively disposed by a stationary ball cage and adapted to be rotated about their axes by their engagement with the work piece during the rotary movement thereof effected by corresponding movement of the work holder, a race way for the balls mounted for rotational movement about the axis of the die pass opening and rotary movethe combination of a machine bed, a die head having a die pass therein affixedly supported on the bed, a work'support comprising a work holder, 4

the work support being longitudinally movable on the bed with the work holder in axial alignment with the opening of the die pass, means for rotating the work holder, means for moving the work support longitudinally of the bed, the die pass comprising a circular series of balls through which a rod or tube to be tapered and supported by the work holder may be drawn, the balls being relatively disposed by a ball cage and adapted to -be rotated about their axes by their engagement with the work during the rotary movement of the work piece effected by corresponding movement of the work holder, a ball race way element mounted. for rotational movement about the axis of the die pass opening and adapted to be rotated by movement communicated thereto by the movement of the balls and disposed to receive longitudinal thrust of the balls, and means to vary the diameter of the pass opening through the balls concurrently with the longitudinal and rotarymovement of the work piece in the pass opening, said pass diameter varying means comprising an annulus provided with an inner conical wall in engagement with the balls and means for translating longitudinal movement of the 7 work holder into concurrent longitudinal axial movement of the annulus, the annulus itself being mounted for rotation about the axis of the die pass opening and adapted to be rotated by movement communicated thereto by the moving balls.

JAMES LLOYD CASSADY. 

